TWO MODELS OF EXISTENTIAL REBELLION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF E. HEMINGWAY’S THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA AND KH. DO‘STMUHAMMAD’S THE WISE SISYPHUS

Abstract

This article presents a comparative typological analysis of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea and Khurshid Do‘stmuhammad’s The Wise Sisyphus from the perspectives of existentialism and the philosophy of the absurd. The main aim of the study is to highlight two different models of overcoming an absurd situation: the Western literary model of “pragmatic action” (Santiago) and the Uzbek modern literary model of “intellectual contemplation” (Sisyphus). The results of the analysis show that Hemingway’s protagonist affirms his existence through physical struggle and professionalism, whereas Do‘stmuhammad’s protagonist achieves this through conscious endurance and deep reflection. This demonstrates a transformation of existentialist philosophy shaped by national mentality and distinctive modes of artistic thinking.